The Magic Collection of Ray Goulet

Kellar, Harry (Heinrich Keller). Kellar. Levitation. Cincinnati: The Strobridge Litho. Co., ca. 1905. Iconic color lithograph features Kellar’s most famous illusion, the levitation of an assistant with a Moorish setting. 39 ¼ x 28 ¼”. Border expertly recreated, tears and creased repaired, some over-coloring. B. Linen backed. Rare. The levitation was perhaps Kellar’s most significant theatrical achievement. While in many ways a copy of the Maskelyne version staged at Egyptian Hall in London, Kellar’s levitation was a significant step forward in that his could be trouped from town to town by a touring show. Kellar used the illusion with great success and advertised it heavily until his retirement in 1908. When Howard Thurston took over the Kellar show he abandoned most of his predecessor’s tricks. But not the levitation. So strong was the effect, it remained a staple of the Thurston show for almost thirty years.